Economic Well Being of Rural Women Through Self Help Groups with Special Reference to Coastal Villages of Tuticorin District

Today women are in the process of enriching themselves through Self-Help Group. Tuticorin District having 19 town panchayats formed 1230 SHGs, and their achievement is 259%. The overall objective of the present study is to analysis the economic empowerment of women though SHGs in five coastal areas of Tuticorin viz. Siluvaipatti, Sippikulam, Lourthammalpuram, Pattanamaruthur and Mokkaiyur. However more specifically: 1. To collect data on the socio-economic structure and activities of the fisherwomen SHGs; 2. To analyse the income and expenditure of the members after joining SHGs; and 3. To offer suitable suggestions on the basis of the finding of the study.The study utilised both primary and secondary data. Primary data relating to the socio economic background and various other aspects relating to social empowerment of the fisherwomen were collected through pre-designed questionnaire from 472 fisherwomen representing 31 SHGs from the selected five coastal villages. A separate interview schedule was designed, pilot tested and used for data collection. The schedule was used to collect specific information from each member of the fisherwomen SHGs. Percentage analysis and averages were used owing to the constraints imposed by the nature of data. Class interval technique was used to analysis the age, income and expenditure. To conclude, the economic activities of SHGs are quite successful. In this way, SHGs in five costal villages of Tuticorin were very successful to develop women empowerment and rural areas